History YMMV / KamenRiderBlackSun

** Making use of kaijins to tell a civil rights allegory where the kaijins are the ones being oppressed denies the show a chance to explore the realistic implications of plot elements such as the Japanese government being in control of a transhuman serum which gives people superpowers.

* {{Narm}}: While the racist and discriminatory violence is played in a sobering manner, the fact that it's being perpetrated on PeopleInRubberSuits (who in the [[Series/KamenRider original series]] were transhuman Nazis as opposed to an oppressed underclass) can make it hard to take too seriously. While normally it would fall under NarmCharm, as per usual for {{Toku}}, the much darker undertones of the show and the fact that the violence is made to be more realistic as opposed to stylized just makes the contrast with the rubber suits for kaijins seem jarring.

* FunnyMoments:

** "[[https://knowyourmeme.com/photos/2159541-garth-marenghis-darkplace I know writers who use subtext, and they're all cowards]]."[[labelnote:Explanation]]The quote itself comes from ''Series/GarthMarengisDarkplace'', a British television show. The screenshot has been a perennial meme amongst English-speaking cinephiles when describing {{Anvilicious}} productions--and reactions to the show's sledgehammer-level political messaging (even up to [[RippedFromTheHeadlines the extent of portraying]] the brutal and UndignifiedDeath of a Shinzo Abe {{expy}}) has been a ripe opportunity to quote the meme, both from detractors who [[BrokenAesop dislike the perceived hamfistedness of it]], or [[WatchedItForTheRepresentation people with left-leaning political sympathies onboard with its messaging]].[[/labelnote]]

** "[[https://knowyourmeme.com/photos/2159541-garth-marenghis-darkplace I know writers who use subtext, and they're all cowards]]."[[labelnote:Explanation]]The quote itself comes from ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garth_Marenghi%27s_Darkplace Garth Marengi's Darkplace]]'', a British television show. The screenshot has been a perennial meme amongst English-speaking cinephiles when describing {{Anvilicious}} productions--and reactions to the show's sledgehammer-level political messaging (even up to [[RippedFromTheHeadlines the extent of portraying]] the brutal and UndignifiedDeath of a Shinzo Abe {{expy}}) has been a ripe opportunity to quote the meme, both from detractors who [[BrokenAesop dislike the perceived hamfistedness of it]], or [[WatchedItForTheRepresentation people with left-leaning political sympathies onboard with its messaging]].[[/labelnote]]

* {{Narm}}: While the racist and discriminatory violence is played in a sobering manner, the fact that it's being perpetrated on PeopleInRubberSuits (who in the [[Series/KamenRider original series]] were transhuman Nazis as opposed to an oppressed underclass) can make it hard to take too seriously. While normally it would fall under NarmCharm, as per usual for {{Toku}}, the much darker undertones of the show and less focus on fight scenes prevent it from doing so.

* TooBleakStoppedCaring: With a bleak setting full of virulent racism and racism-fueled violence, numerous self-serving characters who KickTheDog all throughout, and likeable characters who are [[BreakTheCutie pushed to their limit]] or flat-out killed, ''Black Sun'' can be a very unpleasant watch.

* {{Narm}}: While the racist and discriminatory violence is played in a sobering manner, the fact that it's being perpetrated on PeopleInRubberSuits (who in the [[Series/KamenRider original series]] were transhuman Nazis as opposed to an oppressed underclass) can make it hard to take too seriously.

** After Bilgenia [[spoiler:forcibly turns Aoi into a kaijin and murders her mother in front of him]], it's incredibly satisfying to see Black Sun kick the ever-loving crap out of him and slice off his arm. Episode 8 sees Bilgenia get several more well-deserved beatdowns, including getting curb-stomped by Shadow Moon (whose [[spoiler:lover he had killed and tricked him into eating]]), knocked to the ground and kicked repeatedly by Dounami, and finally brutally beaten by Aoi and only surviving because she chose to spare him.

* TaintedByThePreview: Early merchandise reveals included the phrase "stop kaijin hate", a reference to the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop_Asian_Hate "Stop Asian Hate" movement]], which led a lot of people to assume it was going to be a standard FantasticRacism story that leant into the idea that BothSidesHaveAPoint, appropriating the imagery of real-world civil rights activism without committing to a genuine position. [[WinTheCrowd Many of those fans were won over]] when it turned out that ''Black Sun'' is instead unapologetically political, taking a very clear stance against xenophobia and bigotry in Japan. Although this attracted new criticism of it taking real world issues and overlaying them to an allegory that [[BrokenAesop doesn't really work]].

* TheWoobie: Aoi, oh so much. [[spoiler:Not is she forcefully turned into a kaijin, she loses her guardian, her parents, her best friend, and has to kill Kotaro, who she only recently created a strong bond with]]. Someone give this poor girl a hug.

* TooBleakStoppedCaring: With a bleak setting full of virulent racism and racism-fueled violence featured in the show, numerous self-serving characters who KickTheDog all throughout, and likeable characters who are [[BreakToCutie pushed to their limit]] or flat-out killed, ''Black Sun'' can be a very unpleasant watch.
* TrueArtIsAngsty: Much of the initial Japanese and international reviews highlight the violence and unsubtle political commentary in the narrative. These were all received with high-praise, even with the BittersweetEnding and the very high risk of [[TooBleakStoppedCaring bleakness-induced apathy]].

** During [[spoiler:Shadow Moon's beating of Kotaro]] in epiosde 8, part of his suit's chest flaps loose, very obviously marking it as [[PeopleInRubberSuits made of rubber]].
* TaintedByThePreview: Early merchandise reveals included the phrase "stop kaijin hate", a reference to the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop_Asian_Hate "Stop Asian Hate" movement]], which led a lot of people to assume it was going to be a standard FantasticRacism story that leant into the idea that BothSidesHaveAPoint, appropriating the imagery of real-world civil rights activism without committing to a genuine position. [[WinTheCrowd Many of those fans were won over]] when it turned out that ''Black Sun'' is instead unapologetically political, taking a very clear stance against xenophobia and bigotry in Japan.

* TheWoobie: Aoi, oh so much. [[spoiler:Not is she forcefully turned into a kaijin, she loses her guardian, her parents, her best friend, and has to kill Kotaro, who she only recently created a strong bond with]]. Someone give this poor girl a hug.
* TrueArtIsAngsty: Much of the initial Japanese and international reviews highlight the violence and unsubtle political commentary in the narrative. These were all received with high-praise, even with the BittersweetEnding and the very high risk of [[TooBleakStoppedCaring bleakness-induced apathy]].

* TrueArtIsAngsty: Much of the initial Japanese and international reviews highlight the violence and unsubtle political commentary in the narrative. These were all received with high-praise, even with the BittersweetEnding and the very high risk of [[TooBleakStopCaring bleakness-induced apathy]].

* TrueArtIsAngsty: Much of the initial Japanese and international reviews highlight the violence and unsubtle political commentary in the narrative. These were all received with high-praise, even with the BittersweetEnding and the very high risk of DarknessInducedAudienceApathy.

* TheWoobie: Aoi, oh so much. [[spoiler:Not is she forcefully turned into a kaijin, she loses her guardian, her parents, her best friend, and has to kill Kotaro, who she only recently created a strong bond with]]. Someone give this poor girl a hug.

* RealitySubtext: The series ends with the Prime Minister being [[UndignifiedDeath decapitated by a kaijin's lariat, immediately after taking a piss on a pro-kaijin memorial]]. [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Shinzo_Abe Not exactly like being assassinated in broad daylight with a scrap-made firearm]], but still close enough to recent events.

* CatharsisFactor: At the very least, you get very few KarmaHoudini in this show:

* CatharsisFactor: For all the bigotry he caused towards the good-natured kaijin, Wataru Igaki [[spoiler:got his well-deserved death at the hands of an enraged, fully-evolved Nobuhiko Akizuki]].

* RealitySubtext: The series ends with the Prime Minister being [[UndignifiedDeath decapitated by a kaijin's lariat, immediately after taking a piss on a pro-kaijin memorial]]. [[UsefulNotes/ShinzoAbe Not exactly like being assassinated in broad daylight with a scrap-made firearm]], but still close enough to recent events.

* NauseaFuel: The first episode alone triggered this reaction, due to Black Sun ''ripping out a Kaijin's guts'', with audience reactions [[https://www.reddit.com/r/KamenRider/comments/ydof2y/today_an_early_screening_for_kamen_rider_black/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button being sick at the level of violence]].

* CatharsisFactor: For all the bigotry he caused towards the good-natured kaijin, Wataru Igaki [[spoiler:got his well-deserved death at the hands of an enraged flly-evolved Nobuhiko Akizuki]].

* FanNickname: UsefulNotes/{{Xbox}} Driver, due to Kamen Rider Shadow Moon's Century King Moon Driver looking a lot like an Xbox.

* NauseaFuel: The first episode alone triggered this reaction, due to Black Sun ''ripping out a Kaijin's guts'', with audience reactions [[https://www.reddit.com/r/KamenRider/comments/ydof2y/today_an_early_screening_for_kamen_rider_black/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button being sick at the level of violence]].
* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotPolitical: This is easily the most "political" of the ''Kamen Rider'' series. With allegories to Japanese re-armament by using [[spoiler:Kaijin as expendable tools for war]], to Kaijin being persecuted by humans as allegory for Koreans in Japan being treated as second-class citizens, it is not surprising that Director Kazuya Shiraishi intentionally based it on real events.